* 



There are five species enumerated: one, a common an- 

 nual weed of North America, A. Gigantea inodora, grow- 

 ing often eight or ten feet high, spreading out into many 

 branches; the flowers are not more conspicuous than those 

 of hemp. The sort common in gardens has three lobed 

 leaves. 



The JL. Maratima, rises about two feet, with multifid 

 leaves} which, when handled, emit a strong odour: spikes 

 solitary, hairy and subsessile; native of Cappadocia, Tuscany, 

 and the country of Nice, on sandy shores. 



AMERICAN STARWORT 



Aster Tradescanti. 



Aster, L. from the Greek ;T>, S , a star, the flower being 

 radiated. 



Botanists have named this species of Aster in compli- 

 ment to the memory of John Tradescant, one of the fathers 

 of Natural History in England; as well as one of the ear- 

 liest cultivators of exotic plants in that country. He was 

 appointed chief gardener to king Charles the First. His 

 son, of the same name, visited Virginia, in 1633, and car- 

 rie'd back with him several new plants, of which this was 

 one. 



It obtained the more familiar name of JWichaelmass* 

 Daisy, from its flowering about that season of the year, and 

 the corollas being radiated, and nearly of the size of the com- 

 mon Daisy. 



There are two varieties, viz: the dwarf and tall starwort. 

 The common Jllichaelmass Daisy grows from three to five 

 feet high. The leaves of both are radical, about four inches 

 long, like those of willow; ray varies from white to purple, 

 consisting of many florets. The dwarf variety produces smaller 

 flowers, of a dark purple. 



North America abounds in Asters of every variety of 

 hue. 



ANEMONE. 

 (See Note on Adonis.) 



Anemone, Greek ti/tavs, from MI/S^?, the wind, be- 

 cause the flower is supposed not to open except the wind 

 blows on it; or, because it grows in situations much exposed 

 to the wind. 



And coy Anemone that ne'er uncloses 



Her lips until they're blown on by the wind. 



Hor. Smith. 



Heathen mythology informs us that Adonis was killed 

 by a wild boar, while engaged in the chase of that furious 

 animal ; and that his blood, which was shed upon the ground, 

 was, by Venus, changed into the flower Anemone, which has 

 ever since retained the colour of blood. 



By this the boy that by her side lay killed, 

 Was melted like a vapour from her sight; 

 And in his blood, that on the ground lay spilled, 

 A purple flower sprung up chequered with white. 



Shaks. 



* Michaelmass, Michael and Mass. The feast of the archangel Mi- 

 chael, celebrated on the 29th September. 



The Anemone Vernalis is a native of the mountains, 

 and barren sands in Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland. 

 Leaves pinnate; powers red without, and white within. 



It has been made the emblem of anxious expectation: 



u All wan and shivering in the leafless glade, 

 The sad Anemone reclin'd her head; 

 Grief on her cheeks had paled the roseate hue, 

 And her sweet eye-lids dropp'd with pearly dew. 



Breathe gentle air! from cherub lips impart 



Thy balmy influence to my anguish'd heart; 



Thou whose soft voice calls forth the tender blooms, 



Whose pencil paints them, and whose breath perfumes. 



* * * * 



And give my ivory petals to expand. 



# * * * 



To her fond prayer propitious zephyr yields, 



Sweeps on his sliding shell through azure fields, 



O'er her fair mansion waves his whispering wand, 



And gives her ivory petals to expand." Daneiit. 



The Anemone has, properly, no calyx; but two or three 

 sets of petals, three in a set, somewhat oblong, which are 

 folded over the stamens and pistils in a singular and beau- 

 tiful manner. It differs from the Ranunculus, in not having 

 a melliferous pore on the claw of each petal. The stamina 

 have numerous filaments, half the length of the corolla; an- 

 thers twin and erect; the pistillum has numerous germs in 

 ahead; styles acuminate, and stigmas obtuse; no pericar- 

 piutn; receptacle globular or oblong, hollowed and dotted; 

 numerous seeds, acuminate, retaining the style. It is said to 

 expand its flower only in fine weather, and to close them on 

 the approach of rain. 



" Anemone, that shuns the impending shower." 



Evans. 



And hails with kindling smiles the genial skies. 



Darwin. 



The flowers of the Anemone are of various colours 

 white, blue, purple, yellow, crimson, scarlet, peach-blos- 

 som, 8tc. 



Anemone now robed in virgin white, 



Now blushing with faint crimson. Gisborne. 



u See yon Anemonies their leaves unfold, 

 With rubies flaming, and with living gold." 



The lily, or purple bell 

 Of Persian wind-flower. 



Maturin. 



The American Wild Anemone is very delicate and fra- 

 gile, and soon withers after being cropped. 



" Youth, like a thin Anemone, displays 

 His silken leaf, and in a morn decays." 



Sir Wm. Jones. 



